This is an automated translation (DeepL) of an article I found today; the original is in Spanish. There is an article in English at the IEEEE, but you need an account to read.
*A research team has managed to coordinate 100 domestic air conditioners to stabilise the power grid in real time, as if they were a flexible power plant.*
5-6 minutes
A research team demonstrated that many residential air conditioners can be coordinated to support the power grid without affecting the comfort of users.
Air conditioning: from enemy to ally
- Air conditioning use = more electricity demand in summer. * Peak consumption → risk of blackouts. * New system: controls ACs without affecting comfort. * Technology tested in 100 homes (Texas). * Results: regulates the grid like a power plant. * Zero nuisance for users. * Compatible with smart thermostats. * Contributes to integrating renewable energies.
How air-conditioning can help the grid instead of overloading it
In summer, the massive use of air conditioners generates peaks in electricity consumption. These peaks force expensive and polluting power plants to be activated, compromising grid stability and increasing carbon emissions. In some cases, this overload can even lead to blackouts or planned outages.
However, recent research shows that it is possible to transform this problem into a solution. Through intelligent control systems, it is feasible to coordinate the operation of hundreds of air conditioning units without affecting the comfort of users, while at the same time helping to stabilise the electricity grid.
Adjustable equipment, smart grids
Historically, the electricity grid was designed to operate with large thermal power plants (coal, natural gas, nuclear) that adjusted their output in real time according to demand. But with the increasing penetration of intermittent renewables (such as solar and wind), this model is no longer sustainable.
Today, the focus is on distributed energy resources: systems that generate, store or regulate energy consumption close to the end user. This is where electric vehicles, heat pumps, water heaters and smart air conditioners come into play, which can automatically modify their consumption without human intervention.
The problem of frequency
The electricity grid must be maintained at a constant frequency (60 Hz in North America). When demand exceeds generation, the frequency goes down; when there is excess generation, it goes up. Power plants adjust their output to maintain balance, a process known as frequency regulation.
But what if household appliances could also participate in this adjustment?
Pilot test: air conditioning as a frequency regulator
Between 2019 and 2023, a team led by the University of Michigan, together with Los Alamos National Laboratory and the University of California at Berkeley, conducted a pilot test in 100 homes in Austin, Texas. The air conditioners were connected to control boards capable of modifying the on/off cycle of the compressor depending on the frequency of the grid.
The adjustment was minimal: they always stayed within the temperature range defined by the thermostats. The aim was to achieve a collective change in electricity consumption, almost imperceptible to the users, but relevant to the electrical system.
Key results
- Frequency regulation as accurate as that of a traditional power plant. * No discomfort reported by most users. * Indoor temperature never deviated more than 0.9°C from set point. * Less than 2% of households requested to deactivate the system in any test. * Full compatibility with smart thermostats already available on the market.
Incentives and adoption
This type of technology can be easily integrated into voluntary programmes offered by utilities or manufacturers of smart thermostats. In exchange for bill credits, the user allows their air conditioner to cooperate with the grid at critical times, without them noticing the difference.
Potential
Turning air conditioning into a flexible asset transforms a large energy consumer into a balancing and efficiency tool. Deploying it on a large scale would:
- Reduce fossil fuel use at times of high demand. * Increase the capacity to integrate renewable sources (less reliance on backup power plants). * Reduce global emissions associated with summer electricity consumption. * Improve energy resilience to heat waves and consumption peaks. * Empower citizens to actively participate in the energy transition, without sacrificing their comfort.
This approach represents a smart, efficient and cost-effective way to move towards a cleaner and more balanced energy model.
More information: Controlling Air Conditioners for Frequency Regulation: A Real-World Example | IEEE Journals & Magazine | IEEE Xplore
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)